The Department of Foreign Affairs Baguio Regional Consular Office is reminding passport applicants to check the consistency of their documentary requirements and to bring only legal and authenticated documents.

DFA Baguio Director Edgar Canta said they are encountering numerous cases of inconsistent and fraudulent documents in their daily transactions.

Canta said they can easily identify fake documents, and while they do not want to file cases against such clients as much as possible, the documents are automatically confiscated and compared with records of the concerned issuing agencies.

He said aside from an official government-issued identification documents and other supporting papers, applicants must have an authentic birth certificate and marriage contract, when applicable.

“Our priority is the National Statistics Office-issued documents. If the document is authenticated and entries are clear, we no longer require the copy from the Office of the Civil Registrar,” Canta said.

Canta and NSO Regional Director Olivia Gulla maintain an open line in addressing passport requirements and other related concerns.

Canta said the transfer of DFA to SM City Baguio has been more convenient for their clients, since they can visit the mall while waiting for their turn to go inside the DFA office for the processing of their application.

Canta however appealed for more patience while they are still waiting for the augmentation of their equipment.

The DFA Baguio has currently set its quota at 150 passport applications processed daily, which is the maximum number of applications their present data capturing machines can process.